1

After completing this chapter you should be able to

• add, subtract, multiply and divide complex numbers
• find the modulus and argument of a complex number
• show complex numbers on an Argand diagram
• solve equations that have complex roots.

Complex
numbers

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are part of the

Earth’s electromagnetic field.

Although complex numbers may seem to have

few direct links with real-world quantities,
there are areas of application in which the idea
of a complex number is extremely useful. For
example, the strength of an electromagnetic
field, which has both an electric and a
magnetic component, can be described by
using a complex number. Other areas in which
the mathematics of complex numbers is a
valuable tool include signal processing, fluid
dynamics and quantum mechanics.
1
CHAPTER 1

1.1 You can use real and imaginary numbers.

When solving a quadratic equation in Unit C1, you saw how the discriminant of the equation
could be used to find out about the type of roots.
For the equation ax2  bx  c  0, the discriminant is b2  4ac.
If b2  4ac  0, there are two different real roots.
If b2  4ac  0, there are two equal real roots.
If b2  4ac  0, there are no real roots.
In the case b2  4ac  0, the problem is that you reach a situation where you need to find the
square root of a negative number, which is not ‘real’.
To solve this problem, another type of number called an ‘imaginary number’ is used.
_____
The ‘imaginary number’ √(1) is called i (or sometimes j in electrical engineering), and sums
of real and imaginary numbers, such as 3  2i, are known as complex numbers.

䊏 A complex number is written in the form a ⴙ bi.

䊏 You can add and subtract complex numbers.
_____
䊏 √(1)  i
䊏 An imaginary number is a number of the form bi, where b is a real number (b 僆 ⺢).

Example 1
______
Write √(36) in terms of i.

______ _________ ___ ____

√(36)  √(36  1)  √36 √(1)  6i

This__can be __written as
Example 2 2i√7 or (2√7 )i to avoid
__
______ confusion with 2√7i .
Write √(28) in terms of i.

______ _________ ___ ____ __ __ ____ __ __ __

√(28)  √(28  1)  √28 √(1)  √4 √7 √(1)  2√7 i or 2i√7 or (2√7 )i

Example 3

Solve the equation x2  9  0.

x2  9 Note that just as x2  9

_____ ________ __ ____ has two roots 3 and
x   √(9)   √(9  1)   √9 √(1)  3i −3, x2  9 also has two
x  3i (x  3i, x  3i) roots 3i and −3i.

2
 Complex numbers

䊏 A complex number is a number of the form a ⴙ bi, where a 僆 ⺢ and b 僆 ⺢.

䊏 For the complex number a ⴙ bi, a is called the real part and b is called the imaginary part.
䊏 The complete set of complex numbers is called ⺓.

Example 4

Solve the equation x2  6x  25  0.

Method 1 (Completing the square)

Because
x2  6x  (x  3)2  9 (x  3)2  (x  3)(x  3)
 x2  6x  9
x2  6x  25  (x  3)2 9  25  (x  3)2  16
(x  3)2  16  0
(x  3)2  16 ______ __________
_____ √(16)  √(16  1)
x  3   √(16)  4i ___ _____
 √16 √(1)  4i
x  3  4i
x  3  4i, x  3  4i

Method 2 (Quadratic formula)

________________ ______ Using __________
6 √(62  4  1  25) 6  √(64) b  √(b2  4ac)
x  ______________________  _____________ x ________________
2 2 2a
______
√(64)  8i
x  6  8i  3  4i ______ __________
________
√(64)  √(64  1)
2 ___ _____
 √64 √(1)  8i
x  3  4i, x  3  4i

䊏 In a complex number, the real part and the imaginary part cannot be combined to form a
single term.

䊏 You can add complex numbers by adding the real parts and adding the imaginary parts.

䊏 You can subtract complex numbers by subtracting the real parts and subtracting the
imaginary parts.

Example 5

Simplify, giving your answer in the form a  bi, where a 僆 ⺢ and b 僆 ⺢.

a (2  5i)  (7  3i) b (3  4i)  (5  6i) c 2(5  8i)
d (1  8i)  (6  i) e (2  5i)  (5  11i) f (2  3i)  (2  3i)

3
CHAPTER 1

Add real parts and add

a (2  5i)  (7  3i)  (2  7)  i(5  3)  9  8i imaginary parts.

b (3  4i)  (5  6i)  (3  5)  i(4  6)  2  2i

This is the same as

c 2(5  8i)  10  16i (5  8i)  (5  8i)

d (1  8i)  (6  i)  (1  6) i(8  1)  5  7i
Subtract real parts and
subtract imaginary parts.
e (2  5i)  (5  11i)  (2  5)  i(5 (11))  3  6i

The answer has no

f (2  3i)  (2  3i)  (2  2)  i(3 (3))  6i real part. This is called
purely imaginary.

Exercise 1A

Simplify, giving your answer in the form a  bi, where a 僆 ⺢ and b 僆 ⺢.

1 (5  2i)  (8  9i) 2 (4  10i)  (1  8i)

3 (7  6i)  (3  5i) 4 (2  i)  (11  2i)

5 (3  7i)  (6  7i) 6 (20  12i)  (11  3i)

7 (9  6i)  (8  10i) 8 (2  i)  (5  3i)

9 (4  6i)  (8  8i) 10 (1  5i)  (1  i)

11 (3  4i)  (4  5i) (5  6i) 12 (2  7i)  (1  3i)  (12  i)

13 (18  5i)  (15  2i)  (3  7i) 14 2(7  2i)

15 3(8  4i) 16 7(1  3i)

17 2(3  i)  3(2  i) 18 5(4  3i)  4(1  2i)

__ __
19 ( _21  _31i )  ( _25  _35i ) 20 (3√2  i)(√2  i)

Write in the form bi, where b 僆 ⺢.

_____ ______
21 √(9) 22 √(49)
_______ _________
23 √(121) 24 √(10 000)
_______ _____
25 √(225) 26 √(5)
______ ______
27 √(12) 28 √(45)
_______ _______
29 √(200) 30 √(147)

4
 Complex numbers

Solve these equations.

31 x2  2x  5  0 32 x2  2x  10  0

33 x2  4x  29  0 34 x2  10x  26  0

35 x2  6x  18  0 36 x2  4x  7  0

37 x2  6x  11  0 38 x2  2x  25  0

39 x2  5x  25  0 40 x2  3x  5  0

1.2 You can multiply complex numbers and simplify powers of i.

䊏 You can multiply complex numbers using the same technique as you use for multiplying
brackets in algebra, and you can simplify powers of i.
_____
䊏 Since i ⴝ √(ⴚ1) , i2 ⴝ ⴚ1

Example 6

Multiply (2  3i) by (4  5i)

Multiply the two brackets as you

(2  3i)(4  5i)  2(4  5i)  3i(4  5i)
would in algebra.
 8  10i  12i  15i2
 8  10i  12i  15 Use the fact that i2  1.
 (8  15)  (10i  12i)
 7  22i Add real parts and add imaginary
parts.

Example 7

Express (7  4i)2 in the form a  bi.

(7  4i)(7  4i)  7(7  4i)  4i(7  4i)
 49  28i  28i  16i2
 49  28i  28i  16
 (49  16)  (28i  28i)
 33  56i
Multiply the two brackets as you
would in algebra.
Use the fact that i2  1.
Add real parts and add imaginary
parts.

5
CHAPTER 1

Example 8

Simplify (2  3i)(4  5i) (1  3i)

(2  3i)(4  5i)  2(4  5i)  3i(4  5i) First multiply two of the
brackets.
 8  10i  12i  15i2  8  10i  12i  15  7 22i
(7  22i)(1  3i)  7(1  3i) 22i(1  3i) Then multiply the result by
the third bracket.
 7  21i  22i  66i2  59  43i

Example 9

Simplify
a i3 b i4 c (2i)5

a i3  i  i  i  i2  i  i i2  1

b i4  i  i  i  i  i2  i2  1  1  1

c (2i)5  2i  2i  2i  2i  2i  32(i  i  i  i  i) First multiply the 2s (25).

 32(i2  i2  i)  32  1  1  i  32i

Exercise 1B

Simplify these, giving your answer in the form a  bi.

1 (5  i)(3  4i) 2 (6  3i)(7  2i)

3 (5  2i)(1  5i) 4 (13  3i)(2  8i)

5 (3  i)(4  7i) 6 (8  5i)2

7 (2  9i)2 8 (1  i)(2  i)(3  i)

9 (3  2i)(5  i)(4  2i) 10 (2  3i)3

Simplify.

11 i6 12 (3i)4

13 i5  i 14 (4i)3  4i3

15 (1  i)8 Hint: Use the binomial theorem.

6
 Complex numbers

1.3 You can find the complex conjugate of a complex number.

䊏 You can write down the complex conjugate of a complex number, and you can divide two
complex numbers by using the complex conjugate of the denominator.
䊏 The complex number a  bi is called the complex conjugate of the complex number a  bi.
䊏 The complex numbers a  bi and a  bi are called a complex conjugate pair.
䊏 The complex conjugate of z is called zⴱ, so if z  a  bi, zⴱ  a  bi.

Example 10

Write down the complex conjugate of

__ __
a 2  3i b 5  2i c √3  i d 1  i√5

a 2  3i b 5  2i
Just change the sign of the imaginary part
__ __ (from  to −, or − to ).
c √3 i d 1  i √5

Example 11

Find z  zⴱ and zzⴱ, given that

__ __
a z  3  5i b z  2  7i c z  2√2  i√2

a zⴱ  3  5i
z  zⴱ  (3  5i)  (3  5i)  (3  3)  i(5  5)  6 Note that z  zⴱ is real.
zzⴱ  (3  5i)(3  5i)  3(3  5i)  5i(3  5i)
 9  15i  15i  25i2  9  25  34 Note that zzⴱ is real.

b zⴱ  2  7i
z  zⴱ  (2  7i)  (2  7i)  (2  2)  i(7  7)  4 Note that z  zⴱ is real.
zzⴱ  (2  7i)(2  7i)  2(2  7i)  7i(2  7i)
 4  14i  14i  49i2  4  49  53 Note that zzⴱ is real.

__ __
c zⴱ  2√2  i√2
__ __ __ __
z  zⴱ  (2√2  i√2 )  (2√2  i√2 )
__ __ __ __ __
 (2√2  2√2 )  i(√2  √2 )  4√2 Note that z  zⴱ is real.
__ __ __ __
zzⴱ  (2√2  i√2 )(2√2  i√2 )
__ __ __ __ __ __
 2√2 (2√2  i√2 )  i√2 (2√2  i√2 )
 8  4i  4i  2i2  8  2  10 Note that zzⴱ is real.

7
CHAPTER 1

Example 12

Simplify (10  5i) (1  2i)

The complex conjugate of the

(10  5i) (1  2i)  10  5i  1_____
_______  2i denominator is 1  2i. Multiply
1  2i 1  2i numerator and denominator by this.

10  5i  1_____
_______  2i  (10  5i)(1  2i)
______________
1  2i 1  2i (1  2i)(1  2i)
(10  5i)(1  2i)  10(1  2i)  5i(1  2i)
 10  20i  5i  10i2
 20  15i
(1  2i)(1  2i)  1(1  2i)  2i(1  2i)
 1  2i  2i  4i2  5
(10  5i) (1  2i)  20  15i  4  3i
________ Divide each term in the numerator
5 by 5.

Example 13

Simplify (5  4i) (2  3i)

The complex conjugate of the

(5  4i) (2  3i)  5  4i  2
______  3i
______ denominator is 2  3i. Multiply
2  3i 2  3i numerator and denominator by this.

5  4i  2
______  3i  (5
______  4i)(2  3i)
______________
2  3i 2  3i (2  3i)(2  3i)
(5  4i)(2  3i)  5(2  3i)  4i(2  3i)
 10  15i  8i  12i2
 2  23i
(2  3i)(2  3i)  2(2  3i)  3i(2  3i)
 4  6i  6i  9i2  13
(5  4i) (2  3i)  2  23i   __
_________ 23 i
2  ___ Divide each term in the numerator
by 13.
13 13 13

The division process shown in Examples 12 and 13 is similar to the process used to divide surds.
(See C1 Section 1.8.)
For surds the denominator is rationalised. For complex numbers the denominator is made real.

䊏 If the roots ␣ and ␤ of a quadratic equation are complex, ␣ and ␤ will always be a complex
conjugate pair.

䊏 If the roots of the equation are ␣ and ␤, the equation is (x  ␣)(x  ␤)  0

(x  ␣)(x  ␤)  x2  ␣x  ␤x  ␣␤  x2  (␣  ␤)x  ␣␤

8
 Complex numbers

Example 14

Find the quadratic equation that has roots 3  5i and 3  5i.

This is a useful method to

For this equation α  β  (3  5i)  (3  5i)  6 remember, although it is
and αβ  (3  5i)(3  5i)  9  15i  15i  25i2  34 not required knowledge
for the FP1 exam.
The equation is x2  6x  34  0

Exercise 1C

1 Write down the complex conjugate zⴱ for

a z  8  2i b z  6  5i
__ ___
c z  _32  _21i d z  √5  i√10

2 Find z  zⴱ and zzⴱ for

a z  6  3i b z  10  5i
__ __
c z  _3 _1i d z  √5  3i√5
4 4

Find these in the form a  bi.

3 (25  10i) (1  2i) 4 (6  i) (3  4i)

1i
5 (11  4i) (3  i) 6 _____
2i
3  5i 3  5i
7 ______ 8 ______
1  3i 6  8i
28  3i 2i
9 _______ 10 ______
1i 1  4i
(3  4i)2
11 ________
1i

Given that z1  1  i, z2  2  i and z3  3  i, find answers for questions 12–14 in the

form a  bi.
z1z2 (z2)2
12 ____
z3 13 ____
z1
2z1  5z3
14 _________
z2

5  2i  2  i, find z in the form a  bi.

15 Given that ______
z

6  8i 6  8i
16 Simplify ______  ______, giving your answer in the form a  bi.
1i 1i

17 The roots of the quadratic equation x2  2x  26  0 are

and .
Find a
and  b
 c


9
CHAPTER 1

18 The roots of the quadratic equation x 2  8x  25  0 are

and .
Find a
and  b
 c


19 Find the quadratic equation that has roots 2  3i and 2  3i.

20 Find the quadratic equation that has roots 5  4i and 5  4i.

1.4 You can represent complex numbers on an Argand diagram.

䊏 You can represent complex numbers on a diagram, called an Argand diagram.

䊏 A real number can be represented as a point on a straight line (a number line, which
has one dimension).

䊏 A complex number, having two components (real and imaginary), can be represented as a
point in a plane (two dimensions).

䊏 The complex number z ⴝ x ⴙ iy is represented by the point (x, y), where x and y are
Cartesian coordinates.

䊏 The Cartesian coordinate diagram used to represent complex numbers is called an Argand
diagram.

䊏 The x-axis in the Argand Diagram is called the real axis and the y-axis is called the
imaginary axis.

Example 15

The complex numbers z1  2  5i, z2  3  4i and z3   4  i are represented by the points A,

B and C respectively on an Argand diagram. Sketch the Argand diagram.

Imaginary y A (2, 5)
z1

C (4, 1) For z1  2  5i, plot (2, 5).

z3 For z2  3  4i, plot (3, 4).
x
For z3  4  i, plot (4, 1).
O
Real

B (3, 4)
z2

10
 Complex numbers

Example 16

Show the complex conjugates z1  4  2i and zⴱ  4  2i on an Argand diagram.

Imaginary y

(4, 2)
z1 Note that complex conjugates will always
be placed symmetrically above and below
x
the real axis.
O
Real
(4, 2)
z2

___
The complex number z  x  iy can also be represented by the vector OP, where O is the origin
and P is the point (x, y) on the Argand diagram.

Example 17

Show the complex numbers z1  2  5i, z2  3  4i and z3  4  i on an Argand diagram.

y
A (2, 5)
z1

C (4, 1) For z1  2  5i, show the vector from (0, 0)

z3 to (2, 5).
x
Similarly for z2 and z3.
O

B (3, 4)
z2

If you label the diagram with letters A, B and C, make sure that you show which letter represents
which vector.

11
CHAPTER 1

Example 18
___ ___
The complex numbers z1  7  24i and z2  2  2i are represented by the vectors OA and OB ___
respectively
___ on an Argand diagram (where O is the origin). Draw the diagram and calculate |OA|
and |OB |.

y
A (7, 24)
z1

z2
B (2, 2)
O x

___ ________ ____

| OA |  √72  242  √625  25
___ __________ __ __
| OB |  √(2)2  22  √8  2√2

䊏 Addition of complex numbers can be represented on the Argand diagram by the addition of
their respective vectors on the diagram.

Example 19

z1  4  i and z2  3  3i. Show z1, z2 and z1  z2 on an Argand diagram.

z1  z2  (4  3)  i(1  3)  7  4i

C (7, 4)
B (3, 3) z1  z2
z2

___ that the vector for z1  z2

Note
z1A (4, 1) (OC) is the diagonal of the
O x parallelogram. This is because
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
OC  OA  AC  OA  OB.

12
 Complex numbers

Example 20

z1  6  2i and z2   1  4i. Show z1, z2 and z1  z2 on an Argand diagram.

z1  z2  (6  1)  i(2  4)  5  2i

B (1, 4)
z2
C (5, 2)
z1  z2
___ that the vector for z1  z2
Note
(OC) is the diagonal of the
O x parallelogram.
___ ___ ___
This___is because
___
    
OC  OA  AC  OA  OB.
z1
A (6, 2)

Example 21

z1  2  5i and z2  4  2i. Show z1, z2 and z1  z2 on an Argand diagram.

z1  z2  (2  4)  i(5  2)  2  3i

y z1
(2, 5)
z1  z2
(2, 3)
z2
(4, 2)
z1  z2  z1  ( z2).
The vector for z2 is shown by the
O x
dotted line on the diagram.
z2
(4, 2)

13
CHAPTER 1

Exercise 1D

1 Show these numbers on an Argand diagram.

a 7  2i b 5  4i
c 6  i d 2  5i
__
e 3i f √2  2i
g  _21  _25i h 4

2 Given that z1  1  i, z2  5  10i and z3  3 4i,

z2
a find z1z2, z1z3 and __
z3 in the form a  ib.
z2
b show z1, z2, z3, z1z2, z1z3 and __
z on an Argand diagram.
3

3 Show the roots of the equation x2  6x  10  0 on an Argand diagram.

4 The complex numbers z1  5  12i, z2  6  10i, z3  4  2i and z4  3  i are

___ ___ ___ ___
represented by the vectors OA, OB, OC and OD respectively on an Argand diagram.
___ ___ ___ ___
Draw the diagram and calculate |OA |, |OB |, |OC | and |OD |.

5 z1  11  2i and z2  2  4i. Show z1, z2 and z1  z2 on an Argand diagram.

6 z1  3  6i and z2  8  i. Show z1, z2 and z1  z2 on an Argand diagram.

7 z1  8  4i and z2  6  7i. Show z1, z2 and z1  z2 on an Argand diagram.

8 z1  6  5i and z2  4  4i. Show z1, z2 and z1  z2 on an Argand diagram.

1.5 You can find the value of r, the modulus of a complex number z, and the value
of ␪, the argument of z.

䊏 Consider the complex number 3 ⴙ 4i, represented

y
on an Argand
___ diagram by the point A, or by the
vector OA . A (3, 4)
___ ___ z
The length OA or |OA |, the magnitude of vector |OA |,
is found by Pythagoras’ theorem: 4
___ _______ ___
|OA | ⴝ √32 ⴙ 42 ⴝ √25 ⴝ 5
O 3 x
This number is called the modulus of the
complex number 3 ⴙ 4i.

14
 Complex numbers

_______
䊏 The modulus of the complex number z ⴝ x ⴙ i y is given by √x2 ⴙ y2 .

䊏 The modulus of the complex number z ⴝ x ⴙ iy is written as r

_______
or |z| or | x ⴙ iy|, so r ⴝ √x2 ⴙ y2 .

_______
䊏 |z| ⴝ √x2 ⴙ y2 .

_______
䊏 | x ⴙ iy| ⴝ √x2 ⴙ y2 .

䊏 The modulus of any non-zero complex number is positive.

Consider again the complex number y

z ⴝ 3 ⴙ 4i.
A (3, 4)
z
By convention, angles are measured from the
positive x-axis (or the positive real axis),
4
anticlockwise being positive.
θ
The angle ␪ shown on the Argand diagram, O 3 x
measured from the positive real axis, is found
by trigonometry:
tan ␪ ⴝ _43 ,
␪ ⴝ arctan _43 艐 0.927 radians

This angle is called the argument of the complex

number 3 ⴙ 4i.

䊏 The argument of the complex number z ⴝ x ⴙ i y is the angle ␪ between the positive real
axis and the vector representing z on the Argand diagram.

y
䊏 For the argument ␪ of the complex number z ⴝ x ⴙ i y, tan ␪ ⴝ __
x.

䊏 The argument ␪ of any complex number is such that ⴚ␲  ␪  ␲

(or ⴚ180°  ␪  180°). (This is sometimes referred to as the principal argument).

䊏 The argument of a complex number z is written as arg z.

䊏 The argument ␪ of a complex number is usually given in radians.

It is important to remember that the position of the complex number on the

Argand diagram (the quadrant in which it appears) will determine whether
its argument is positive or negative and whether its argument is acute or
obtuse.
The following examples illustrate this.

15
CHAPTER 1

Example 22

Find, to two decimal places, the modulus and argument (in radians) of z  2  7i.

y
(2, 7)
z

Sketch the Argand

diagram, showing
7 the position of
the number.

α
O 2 x

Here z is in the
first quadrant,
so this angle
_______ is the required
___
Modulus: |z|  |2  7i|  √22  72  √53  7.28 (2 d.p.) argument
(measured
7
Argument: tan α  __ α  1.2924… radians anticlockwise
2 from the positive
arg z  1.29 radians (2 d.p.) real axis).

Example 23

Find, to two decimal places, the modulus and argument (in radians) of z  5  2i.

z(5, 2) Sketch the Argand

diagram, showing
2 the position of
α the number.
5 O x

Here z is in the
second quadrant,
so the required
__________ ___ argument is
Modulus: |z|  |5  2i|  √(52)  22  √29  5.39 (2 d.p.) ( 
) (measured
2 anticlockwise from
Argument: tan α  __ α  0.3805… radians the positive real
5
axis).
arg z  (π  0.3805)  2.76 radians (2 d.p.)

16
 Complex numbers

Example 24

Find, to two decimal places, the modulus and argument (in radians) of z  4  i.

Sketch the Argand

diagram, showing
the position of
4 the number.
1 α O x
z
(4, 1)

Here z is in the
third quadrant,
so the required
____________ __ argument is
Modulus: |z|  |4  i|  √(4)2  (12)  √17  4.12 (2 d.p.) ( 
)
(clockwise from the
Argument: tan α  __1 α  0.2449… radians positive real axis is
4
negative).
arg z  (π  0.2449)  2.90 radians (2 d.p.)

Example 25

Find, to two decimal places, the modulus and argument (in radians) of z  3  7i.

3 Sketch the Argand

O α x diagram, showing
the position of
the number.

z (3, 7) Here z is in the

fourth quadrant,
__________ ___ so the required
Modulus: |z|  |3  7i|  √32  (7)2  √58  7.62 (2 d.p.) argument is
7 
(clockwise from
Argument: tan α  __ α  1.1659… radians the positive real
3
axis is negative).
arg z  1.17 radians (2 d.p.)

17
CHAPTER 1

Example 26

Find the exact values of the modulus and argument (in radians) of z  1  i.

z (1, 1)

1
Sketch the Argand
α diagram, showing
1 O x the position of
the number.

Here z is in the
_________ __ second quadrant,
Modulus: |z|  |1  i|  √(1)2  12  √2 so the required
argument is
Argument: tan α  _1 π
α  __ ( 
) (measured
1 4 anticlockwise from
π  ___
arg z  ( π  __ 3π the positive real
4) 4 axis).

Exercise 1E

Find the modulus and argument of each of the following complex numbers, giving your answers
exactly where possible, and to two decimal places otherwise.

1 12  5i
__
2 √3  i

3 3  6i

4 2  2i

5 8 7i

6 4  11i
__ __
7 2√3  i√3

8 8  15i

18
 Complex numbers

1.6 You can find the modulus–argument form of the complex number z.

䊏 The modulusⴚargument form of the complex number z ⴝ x ⴙ iy is

z ⴝ r(cos ␪ ⴙ i sin ␪) where r is a positive real number and ␪ is an angle such that
ⴚ␲  ␪  ␲ (or ⴚ180°  ␪  180°)

z (x, y)

r
y

θ From the right-angled triangle,

O x x x  r cos  and y  r sin .

This is correct for a complex number in any of the Argand

diagram quadrants.

For complex numbers z1 and z2, |z1z2| ⴝ |z1||z2|.

Here is a proof of the above result. (You do not need to remember this proof for the exam!)

Let |z1|  r1, arg z1  1 and |z2|  r2, arg z2  2, so

z1  r1(cos 1  i sin 1) and z2  r2(cos 2  isin 2).
z1z2  r1(cos 1  i sin 1)  r2(cos 2  i sin 2)  r1r2(cos 1  i sin 1)(cos 2  i sin 2)
 r1r2(cos 1 cos 2  sin 1 sin 2  i sin 1 cos 2  i cos 1 sin 2)
 r1r2[(cos 1 cos 2  sin 1 sin 2)  i(sin 1 cos 2  cos 1 sin 2)]

But (cos 1 cos 2  sin 1 sin 2)  cos (1  2) and (sin 1 cos 2  cos 1 sin 2)  sin (1  2)

So z1z2  r1r2[cos (1  2)  i sin (1  2)]

You can see that this gives z1z2 in modulus-argument form, with |z1z2|  r1 r2.

So |z1z2|  r1 r2  |z1||z2|

(Also, in fact, arg(z1z2)  1  2)

19
CHAPTER 1

Example 27
__
a Express the numbers z1  1  i√3 and z2  3  3i in the form r (cos   i sin ).
b Write down the value of |z1z2|.

y
z1
(1, 3)
r1
3

3 α1 Sketch the Argand

α2 O 1 x diagram, showing
the position of the
numbers.
3
r2

z2 (3, 3)

__ _________
__ __ z1 is in the first
Modulus: r1  |z1|  |1  i √3 |  √12  (√3 )2  √4  2 quadrant, so this
__ angle is the required
√3 __
Argument: tan α1  ___  √3 π
α1  __ argument (measured
1 3 anticlockwise from the
π
θ1  arg z1  __ positive real axis).
3

Modulus: r2  |z2|  |3  3i|

_____________
 √(3)2  (3)2
__ __ __
 √18  √9 √2
__ z2 is in the third
 3√2 quadrant, so the
required argument is
31 π ( 
2) (clockwise
Argument: tan α2  __ α2  __ from the positive real
3 4
axis is negative).
π 3π
θ2  arg z2   ( π  __ )   ___
4 4

π  i sin __
z1  2( cos __ π
3)
So
3
__
and ( (3π  i sin  ___
z2  3√2 cos  ___
4
3π
)
4 ( ))
__ __
Using |z1 z2|  r1 r2  |z1||z2|, |z1 z2|  r1 r2  2  3√2  6√2

20
 Complex numbers

Exercise 1F

1 Express these in the form r (cos   i sin ), giving exact values of r and  where possible, or
values to two decimal places otherwise.
a 2  2i b 3i
__
c 3  4i d 1  √3 i
e 2  5i f 20
g 7  24i h 5  5i

2 Express these in the form r (cos   i sin ), giving exact values of r and  where possible, or
values to two decimal places otherwise.
3 __
a _______
1  i√3
1
b _____
2i
1i
c _____
1i

3 Write in the form a  ib, where a 僆 ⺢ and b 僆 ⺢.

__
 i sin __
a 3√2 ( cos __
4 4)
3  i sin ___
3
(
b 6 cos ___
4 4 )
__
 i sin __
c √3 ( cos __
3 3)
 i sin  __
d 7 cos  __
( ( 2 ) 2 ( ))
5  i sin  ___
5
( (
e 4 cos  ___
6 ) 6 ( ))
4 In each case, find |z1|, |z2| and z1z2, and verify that |z1z2|  |z1||z2|.
a z1  3  4i z2  4  3i
b z1  1  2i z2  4  2i
c z1  5  12i z2  7  24i
__ __ __ __
d z1  √3  i√2 z2  √2  i√3

1.7 You can solve problems involving complex numbers.

䊏 You can solve problems by equating real parts and imaginary parts from each side of an
equation involving complex numbers.

䊏 This technique can be used to find the square roots of a complex number.

䊏 If x1 ⴙ i y1 ⴝ x2 ⴙ iy2, then x1 ⴝ x2 and y1 ⴝ y2.

21
CHAPTER 1

Example 28

Given that 3  5i  (a  ib)(1  i), where a and b are real, find the value of a and the value of b.

(a  ib)(1  i)  a(1  i)  ib(1  i)

 a  ai  bi  b
 (a  b)  i(a  b)
So (a  b)  i(a  b)  3  5i
Equate the real parts from each side of the
i ab3 equation.
ii a  b  5
Equate the imaginary parts from each side
of the equation.
Adding i and ii: 2a  8
a4
Substituting into equation i: Solve equations i and ii simultaneously.
4b3
b1

Example 29

Find the square roots of 3  4i.

Suppose the square root of 3  4i is a  ib,

where a and b are real.
Then (a  ib)2  3  4i
(a  ib)(a  ib )  3  4i
a(a  ib)  ib(a  ib)  3  4i
a2  abi  abi  b2  3  4i
(a2  b2)  2abi  3  4i
Equate the real parts from each side
i a2  b2  3 of the equation.
ii 2ab  4
Equate the imaginary parts from
each side of the equation.
4  __
From ii: b  ___ 2
2a a 4 3
Substituting into i: a2  __ 2
Multiply throughout by a2.
a
a4  4  3a2
a4  3a2  4  0
(a2  4)(a2  1)  0 This is a quadratic equation in a2.
a2  4 or a2  1

22
 Complex numbers

Since a is real, a2  1 has no solutions.

Solutions are a  2 or a  2.
2:
Substituting back into b  __
a
When a  2, b  1
When a  2, b  1
So the square roots are 2  i and 2  i
The square roots of 3  4i are (2  i).

Exercise 1G

1 a  2b  2ai  4  6i, where a and b are real.

Find the value of a and the value of b.

2 (a  b)  (a  b)i  9  5i, where a and b are real.

Find the value of a and the value of b.

3 (a  b)(2  i)  b  1  (10  2a)i, where a and b are real.

Find the value of a and the value of b.

4 (a  i)3  18  26i, where a is real.

Find the value of a.

5 abi  3a  b  12i, where a and b are real.

Find the value of a and the value of b.

6 Find the real numbers x and y, given that

1  3  2i
______
x  iy
7 Find the real numbers x and y, given that
(x  iy)(1  i)  2  i

8 Solve for real x and y

(x  iy)(5  2i)  3  7i
Hence find the modulus and argument of x  iy.

9 Find the square roots of 7  24i.

10 Find the square roots of 11  60i.

11 Find the square roots of 5  12i.

12 Find the square roots of 2i.

23
CHAPTER 1

1.8 You can solve some types of polynomial equations with real coefficients.

䊏 You know that, if the roots ␣ and ␤ of a quadratic equation are complex, ␣ and ␤ are always
a complex conjugate pair.

䊏 Given one complex root of a quadratic equation, you can find the equation.

䊏 Complex roots of a polynomial equation with real coefficients occur in conjugate pairs.

Example 30

7  2i is one of the roots of a quadratic equation. Find the equation.

The roots are a conjugate

The other root is 7  2i pair.

The equation with roots α and β is (x  α)(x  β)  0 See page 8 and Example 14
on page 9 for another
(x  (7  2i))(x  (7  2i))  0 method.
x2  x(7  2i)  x(7  2i)  (7  2i)(7  2i)  0
x2  7x  2ix  7x  2ix  49  14i  14i  4i2  0
x2  14x  49  4  0
x2  14x  53  0

䊏 An equation of the form a x3  b x2  c x  d  0 is called a cubic equation, and has three roots.

Example 31

Show that x  2 is a solution of the cubic equation x3  6x2  21x  26  0.

Hence solve the equation completely.

For x  2, x3  6x2  21x  26  8  24  42  26  0

So x  2 is a solution of the equation, so x  2 is a factor
of x3  6x2  21x  26
x2  4x  13
___________________
x  2 )x3  6x2  21x  26
x3  2x2
 4x2  21x Use long division (or
another method) to find
 4x2  8x the quadratic factor.
13x  26
13x  26
0

24
 Complex numbers

x3  6x2  21x  26  (x  2)(x2  4x  13)  0 The other two roots are

Solving x2  4x  13  0 found by solving the
quadratic equation.

x2  4x  (x  2)2  4
Solve by completing the
x2  4x  13  (x  2)2  4  13  (x  2)2  9 square. Alternatively, you
could use the quadratic
(x  2)2  9  0 formula.
(x  2)2  9

_____
x  2   √(9)  3i The quadratic equation has
x  2  3i complex roots, which must
be a conjugate pair.
x  2  3i, x  2  3i
So the 3 roots of the equation are 2, 2  3i, and 2  3i.

Note that, for a cubic equation,

either i all three roots are real,
or ii one root is real and the other two roots form a complex conjugate pair.

Example 32

Given that 1 is a root of the equation x3  x2  3x  k  0,

a find the value of k,
b find the other two roots of the equation.

a If 1 is a root,
(1)3  (1)2  3(1)  k  0
1  1  3  k  0
k5
b 1 is a root of the equation, so x  1 is a factor of
x3  x2  3x  5.
x2  2x  5
________________
x  1 )x3  x2  3x  5
x3  x2
 2x2  3x Use long division (or
another method) to find
 2x2  2x the quadratic factor.
5x  5
5x  5
0

25
CHAPTER 1

x3  x2  3x  5  (x  1)(x2  2x  5)  0
The other two roots are
Solving x2  2x  5  0 found by solving the
quadratic equation.

x2  2x  (x  1)2  1 Solve by completing the

x2  2x  5  (x  1)2  1  5  (x  1)2  4 square. Alternatively, you
could use the quadratic
(x  1)2  4  0 formula.
(x  1)2  4

_____
x  1  √(4)  2i The quadratic equation has
x  1 2i complex roots, which must
be a conjugate pair.

x  1  2i, x  1  2i

So the other two roots of the equation are 1  2i and

1  2i.

䊏 An equation of the form a x4 ⴙ b x3 ⴙ c x2 ⴙ d x ⴙ e ⴝ 0 is called a quartic equation, and

has four roots.

Example 33

Given that 3  i is a root of the quartic equation 2x4  3x3  39x2  120x  50  0, solve the
equation completely.

Complex roots
Another root is 3  i. occur in conjugate
pairs.

The equation with roots α and β is (x  α)(x  β)  0

(x  (3  i))(x  (3  i))  0
x2  x(3  i)  x(3  i) (3  i)(3  i)  0
x2  3x  ix  3x  ix  9  3i  3i  i2  0
x2  6x  9  1  0
x2  6x  10  0

26
 Complex numbers

So x2  6x  10 is a factor of 2x4  3x3  39x2  120x  50.

(x2  6x  10)(ax2  bx  c)  2x4  3x3  39x2  120x  50

Consider 2x4
It is possible
The only x4 term in the expansion is x2  ax2, so a  2. to factorise ‘by
(x2  6x  10)(2x2  bx  c)  2x4  3x3  39x2  120x  50 inspection’ by
considering each
term of the quartic
separately.

Consider 3x3
The x3 terms in the expansion are x2  bx and 6x  2x2,
so bx3  12x3  3x3
b  12  3
so b  9.
(x2  6x  10)(2x2  9x  c)  2x4  3x3  39x2  120x  50

You can check this

by considering the
Consider 50 x and x2 terms in
the expansion.
The only constant term in the expansion is 10  c, so c  5.
2x4  3x3  39x2  120x  50  (x2  6x  10)(2x2  9x  5)

Solving 2x2  9x  5  0
(2x  1)(x  5)  0
x  _21 , x  5

So the roots of 2x4  3x3  39x2  120x  50  0 are

_1 , 5, 3  i and 3  i
2

Note that, for a quartic equation,

either i all four roots are real,
or ii two roots are real and the other two roots form a complex
conjugate pair,
or iii two roots form a complex conjugate pair and the other two
roots also form a complex conjugate pair.

27
CHAPTER 1

Example 34

Show that x2  4 is a factor of x4  2x3  21x2  8x  68.

Hence solve the equation x4  2x3  21x2  8x  68  0.

Using long division:

x  2x  17
2
_______________________
x2  4 )x4  2x3  21x  8x  68
x4  4x2 It is also possible
to factorise ‘by
 2x3  17x2  8x inspection’ by
 2x3  8x considering each
term of the quartic
2
17x  68 separately, as in
17x 2
 68 Example 33.

0
So x4  2x3  21x2  8x  68  (x2  4)(x2  2x  17)  0
Either x2  4  0 or x2  2x  17  0
Solving x2  4  0
x2  4
_____ ________ __ ____
Solve by completing
x  √(4)  √(4  1)  √4 √(1)  2i the square.
Solving x2  2x  17  0 Alternatively, you
could use the
x2  2x  (x  1)2  1 quadratic formula.
x2  2x  17  (x  1)2  1  17  (x  1)2  16
(x  1)2  16  0
(x  1)2  16
_____
x  1  √(16)  4i
x  1  4i
So the roots of x4  2x3  21x2  8x  68  0 are
2i, 2i, 1  4i and 1  4i

Exercise 1H

1 Given that 1  2i is one of the roots of a quadratic equation, find the equation.

2 Given that 3  5i is one of the roots of a quadratic equation, find the equation.

3 Given that a  4i, where a is real, is one of the roots of a quadratic equation, find the
equation.

4 Show that x  1 is a root of the equation x3  9x2  33x  25  0.

Hence solve the equation completely.

28
 Complex numbers

5 Show that x  3 is a root of the equation 2x3  4x2  5x  3  0.

Hence solve the equation completely.

6 Show that x  _21 is a root of the equation 2x3  3x2  3x  1  0.

Hence solve the equation completely.

7 Given that 4  i is one of the roots of the equation x3  4x2  15x  68  0, solve the
equation completely.

8 Given that x4  12x3  31x2  108x  360  (x2  9)(x2  bx  c), find the values of b and
c, and hence find all the solutions of the equation x4  12x3  31x2  108x  360  0.

9 Given that 2  3i is one of the roots of the equation

x4  2x3  x2  38x  130  0, solve the equation completely.

10 Find the four roots of the equation x4  16  0.

Show these roots on an Argand diagram.

11 Three of the roots of the equation ax5  bx4  cx3  dx2  ex  f  0 are 2, 2i and 1  i.
Find the values of a, b, c, d, e and f.

Mixed exercise 1I

1 a Find the roots of the equation z2  2z  17  0 giving your answers in the form a  ib,
where a and b are integers.
b Show these roots on an Argand diagram. E
__
2 z1  i, z2  1  i √3
z1
a Find the modulus of i z1z2 ii __
z2.
z1
b Find the argument of i z1z2 ii __
z2.
Give your answers in radians as exact multiples of . E

1
3 z  _____.
2i
a Express in the form a  bi, where a, b 僆 ,
i z2 1.
ii z  __
z
b Find |z2|.
(
c Find arg z  __ 1 , giving your answer in degrees to one decimal place.
) E
z

4 The real and imaginary parts of the complex number z  x  iy satisfy the equation
(2  i) x  (1  3i) y  7  0.
a Find the value of x and the value of y.
b Find the values of i |z| ii arg z. E

5 Given that 2  i is a root of the equation z3  11z  20  0, find the other roots of the
equation. E

29
CHAPTER 1

6 Given that 1  3i is a root of the equation z3  6z  20  0,

a find the other two roots of the equation,
b show, on a single Argand diagram, the three points representing the roots of
the equation,
c prove that these three points are the vertices of a right-angled triangle. E

7 z1  4  2i, z2  3  i
a Display points representing z1 and z2 on the same Argand diagram.
b Find the exact value of |z1  z2|.
z1
Given that w  __
z2 ,
c express w in the form a  ib, where a, b 僆 ,
d find arg w, giving your answer in radians. E

8 Given that 3  2i is a solution of the equation

x4  6x3  19x2  36x  78  0,
a solve the equation completely,
b show on a single Argand diagram the four points that represent the roots of
the equation. E

a  3i
9 z  ______, a ∈ .
2  ai
a Given that a  4, find |z|.
, and find this value.
b Show that there is only one value of a for which arg z  __ E
4

30
 Complex numbers

Summary of key points

_____
1 √(1)  i and i2  1.
2 An imaginary number is a number of the form bi, where b is a real number (b 僆 ⺢).
3 A complex number is a number of the form a  bi, where a 僆 ⺢ and b 僆 ⺢.
4 For the complex number a  bi, a is called the real part and b is called the imaginary part.
5 The complex number zⴱ  a  bi is called the complex conjugate of the complex number
z  a  bi.
6 If the roots
and  of a quadratic equation are complex,
and  will always be a complex
conjugate pair.
7 The complex number z  x  iy is represented on an Argand diagram by the point (x, y),
where x and y are Cartesian coordinates. ___
8 The complex number z  x  iy can also be represented by the vector OP, where O is the
origin and P is the point (x, y) on the Argand diagram.
9 Addition of complex numbers can be represented on the Argand diagram by the addition
of their respective vectors on the diagram. _______
10 The modulus of the complex number z  x  iy is given by √x2  y2 .
11 The modulus of the complex number z  x  iy is written as r or |z|
or |x  iy|, so
_______
r  √x2  y2
_______
|z|  √x2  y2
_______
|x  i y|  √x2  y2
12 The modulus of any non-zero complex number is positive.
13 The argument arg z of the complex number z  x  iy is the angle  between the positive
real axis and the vector representing z on the Argand diagram.
y
14 For the argument  of the complex number z  x  iy, tan   __ x.
15 The argument  of any complex number is such that    
(or 180°    180°). (This is sometimes referred to as the principal argument.)
16 The modulus–argument form of the complex number z  x  iy is
z  r(cos   i sin ). [r is a positive real number and  is an angle such that
    (or 180°    180°)]
17 For complex numbers z1 and z2, |z1z2|  |z1||z2|.
18 If x1  iy1  x2  iy2, then x1  x2 and y1  y2.
19 An equation of the form ax3  bx2  cx  d  0 is called a cubic equation, and has three roots.
20 For a cubic equation, either
a all three roots are real, or
b one root is real and the other two roots form a complex conjugate pair.
21 An equation of the form ax4  bx3  cx2  dx  e  0 is called a quartic equation, and has
four roots.
22 For a quartic equation, either
a all four roots are real, or
b two roots are real and the other two roots form a complex conjugate pair, or
c two roots form a complex conjugate pair and the other two roots also form a complex
conjugate pair.

31